September 9, 2013 - CGTech (Hall 5, Stand D202) will demonstrate the latest version of VERICUT CNC machine simulation and optimisation software at the Advanced Engineering 2013 group of events, which include the Aero Engineering and Composites Engineering shows, held on 12 and 13 November 2013, at the NEC, Birmingham.

The full range of VERICUT composite software will be demonstrated

VERICUT 7.3 includes over 400 customer requested enhancements, significantly improving performance and further simplifying the process of simulating a CNC machine. Changes to the user interface further improve VERICUT’s workflow, and are a direct result of CGTech’s philosophy of continuous product improvement based on customer feedback.

“We have thousands of customers around the world and their needs vary greatly,” says CGTech Managing Director, John Reed. “VERICUT has been designed to meet the needs of all types of CNC users – from the small subcontractors to the OEM and supply chain companies who regularly push the limits of CNC technology. VERICUT is constantly refined to provide the flexibility and tools our customers require.”

The VERICUT user interface is extremely customisable, and VERICUT 7.3 features all-new icons, available in multiple sizes and with several selectable colour themes. Every window and icon can be optionally displayed or hidden.

User-configurable ‘Favourites’ further simplify setting up a simulation session. Favourites can consist of commonly used folders and files, and each item can be drag/dropped into a project. To help objects stand out in the machine simulation scene, an ‘Edge Display’ option analyses models, finds and displays their edges, all without affecting simulation speed.

During simulation, a user can create a list of ‘Stop At’ events. These events, such as ‘Collisions’, ‘Warnings’, ‘Tool changes’ or ‘End of each setup’, can be managed interactively in the NC program dialog. The user can add, move, remove, or temporarily disable the events that pause the simulation.

VERICUT 7.3 performance is now between five and 10 times faster when the NC program moves the simulated machine into potential collision conditions. Constant gouge check simulation with very large design models is also around two to five times faster. A significant development effort has produced enhancements to VERICUT’s industry leading collision algorithms, removing the need to adjust complex machine models to improve performance.

CGTech will also showcase its expanded range of software applications for the aerospace industry at the show. VERICUT is widely used in the aerospace and defence industries to improve the efficiency of all types of CNC machine tools. Proving-out NC programs for multi axis milling, drilling and trimming of composite parts, water jet cutting, robotic machining and mill-turning centres.

Demonstrations of VERICUT Composite Paths for Engineering (VCPe), VERICUT Composite Programming (VCP) and VERICUT Composite Simulation (VCS) will provide visitors with an opportunity to understand the steps needed to get from a CAD designed composite part to CNC programs that drive automated composite machinery. There will be updated information on projects that highlight the implementation and use of machine independent off-line NC programming and simulation software for Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) machines including robotic AFP cells. In addition, CGTech will demonstrate its new programming and simulation software for Automated Tape Laying (ATL).

“Manufacturers of AFP and ATL machinery typically supply in-house developed off-line NC programming software that uniquely supports their machine. Therefore companies need to adopt multiple software applications if they implement multiple machine brands,” explains John Reed. “Because CGTech composites software products are machine-independent, able to support multiple different machine brands from a single software application, companies can select the best equipment for the job, while avoiding the added cost and time associated with implementing and supporting varied software applications for different CNC machines.”

VERICUT Drilling and Fastening (VDAF) is a new software application for simulating and programming auto-drilling and fastening machines. As these machines are used to assemble large aero-structures it is essential to avoid programming errors and collisions, given the late stage in the aircraft manufacturing process. VERICUT allows the user to program drilling and fastener assembly operations in a virtual machine tool environment and provides simulation to check for a variety of potentially disastrous error conditions. Like all VERICUT software, the new module interfaces to leading CAD/CAM/PLM systems and is completely independent of the assembly machine manufacturer.

CNC machine simulation, verification and optimisation software, VERICUT enables users to eliminate the process of manually proving out NC programs. It reduces scrap loss and rework, and the software also optimises NC programs in order to both save time and produce higher quality surface finish. VERICUT simulates all types of CNC machine tools, including those from leading manufacturers such as DMG-Mori Seiki, Mazak, Makino, Matsuura, Hermle, Starrag, Heller and Chiron. VERICUT runs standalone, but can also be integrated with leading CAM systems such as Dassault Systemes CATIA, Siemens NX, MasterCAM, Delcam PowerMill, Vero EdgeCAM, Open Mind hyperMILL, DP Esprit and Missler TopSolidCAM.

About CGTech

CGTech is the developer of VERICUT, the world's leading CNC simulation and verification software product. VERICUT protects expensive CNC machine tools against potentially disastrous crashes and collisions. It allows the user to create detailed software models of all types of CNC machine tool to create a virtual machining environment. Users can then run their CNC programs through VERICUT before attempting to machine components. Errors such as axis over-travel, collision between tooling and workholding devices, rapid moves in material, and tool change collisions are detected and written to an error log.

All types of CNC machine tools are supported, including 5-axis milling machines and machining centres, as well as combination mill-turn centres.

VERICUT includes CNC program optimisation, which can reduce machining times by up to 50 per cent by adjusting feedrates and tool motion based on the material removal rate. Other benefits of optimised CNC programs include improved surface finish, greater tool life and less wear and tear on the machine tool.

CGTech, based in Irvine California, USA has European subsidiaries in UK, Germany, France and Italy and an extensive reseller network.